Fear and loathing as Cork clubs seethe over No vote

The Cork county boards decision to ignore their clubs on Rule 42 has angered many  but not enough to disrupt the status quo, writes Michael Foley

KILLAVULLEN is a village in north Cork 20 miles from Cork city, shadowed on one side by Mallow and by Fermoy further to the east. In the five years since their football team’s promotion to intermediate level, Killavullen’s GAA club have had a vote at Cork county board meetings. In a small community the footballers’ achievements have been a source of great pride, their county board vote a reflection of the club’s enhanced status.

A few weeks ago the club members debated the Congress motions on Rule 42 and narrowly supported the one to temporarily open Croke Park. Then on the Tuesday before Congress the Cork county board held their usual meeting, but Killavullen’s delegate Pat O’Brien was on holidays. The news that Cork had opted to forego a club vote and oppose the motion on the basis of a mandate given at county convention in 2003 infuriated clubs across